Chapter 84 Linlin, do you want to catch the bad guys?

Xu Lin smiled, expressing her understanding to Yu Tong. If she were Granny Zheng, she would have been just as excited. Handing over a pair of chopsticks, Xu Lin asked, "Have you eaten? Would you like to join me?"

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. We really haven't eaten," Yu Tong replied as she accepted the chopsticks. "My mother was worried that Brother Si wouldn't be well taken care of, so she bought breakfast and came right over. She happened to run into Xiao Han on the way." With a shift in her tone, she sighed, "I truly didn't expect your medical skills to be so remarkable. You cured Brother Si in just a few moves. Ah, it's a pity we didn't meet you sooner."

Yu Tong exaggerated her expression, making Xu Lin smile, but she didn't stop lamenting. "After Brother Si fell ill, my mother exhausted every connection to find famous doctors for him, but none succeeded. She blamed herself for not taking good care of the only child her old friend had left behind."

Recalling the past, Yu Tong still felt pain for her mother-in-law, who, despite her own injuries and pain, never ceased to worry about others.

As Yu Tong chattered on, the two of them finished their breakfast. At that moment, Qi Min arrived to take over Si Han’s shift, so that Si Han could return home for some rest and come back to relieve her in the evening. For the past two years, mother and son had alternated caring for Si Zhan in this way, never truly resting.

Upon seeing Xu Lin, Qi Min couldn't help but express her sincere gratitude once more, even pressing several cash notes into Xu Lin's hand. Since she had to care for her husband and had no time to buy gifts, and Si Han, being a young man, knew even less about gift-giving, Qi Min simply told Xu Lin to buy herself something nice as a reward. As for the medical fees, she would pay those separately. This money was not to be counted as payment for treatment, leaving Xu Lin both amused and exasperated.

Just as Xu Lin had predicted, Si Zhan’s health indicators met the discharge standards, but the hospital refused to let him go, insisting on another day of observation.

The next day, a large group finally left the hospital together. It seemed everything would go smoothly, but unexpectedly, an incident occurred as they were leaving. Someone actually tried to abduct Si Zhan—using occult methods, no less. It was as if they had run straight into Xu Lin’s hands.

At the time, Xu Lin was sitting beside Si Zhan with Granny Zheng, Qi Yue was driving, and Si Han was in the passenger seat. Suddenly, a paper figure slipped through the window, heading straight for Si Zhan. Without hesitation, Xu Lin reached out and pinched the little paper figure.

Her action stunned everyone in the car.

Qi Yue broke out in a cold sweat and couldn’t help but warn, “Comrade Xu, superstition isn’t tolerated these days. You’d better put that thing away. If someone sees you, you’ll be in serious trouble.”

Si Han, his face cold and his eyes wide with shock, stared at the paper figure in Xu Lin’s hand. He had been watching the rearview mirror and saw clearly—the paper figure had crept in through Granny Zheng’s window, heading straight for his father. If not for Xu Lin’s quick intervention, the little paper man would have entered his father’s body. He’d never seen this sort of trick before, but he knew it was something malicious.

“Comrade Xu, is someone trying to harm my father?” Si Han asked, his voice icy.

Si Zhan, now realizing what was happening, immediately shielded Granny Zheng, scanning the surroundings warily. Granny Zheng tried to wriggle free but couldn’t, fearing she might injure Si Zhan if she struggled, so she kept pleading with him to let her go.

For a moment, the car was in chaos, everyone tense and on edge.

Xu Lin took out a jade pendant and handed it to Si Zhan, her expression calm. “Indeed, someone is using evil arts to harm you. Wear this jade pendant—it will protect you ten times. If the pendant breaks, that means its power is spent, and you must be even more cautious. But honestly, even with caution, these methods are hard to guard against. You’d better just contact me directly.”

With that, she pressed the pendant into Si Zhan’s hand, the other hand holding the paper figure in her palm. She turned to Qi Yue and said, “Stop the car. I need to get out.”

“What for?” Qi Yue asked, still visibly anxious.

Granny Zheng, who was urging Si Zhan to put on the pendant, turned to Xu Lin and asked worriedly, “Linlin, are you going to catch those evildoers?”

Xu Lin nodded. Did they really think she’d let someone pull tricks under her nose as if she didn’t exist? This was a provocation—of course she had to confront the other party and put them in their place.

“No, it’s too dangerous. Leave professional matters to professionals,” Granny Zheng said, turning to Qi Yue. “Notify the security team and have them handle this.”

“Don’t,” Xu Lin interrupted, explaining to Granny Zheng, “The security team isn’t equipped to handle this sort of thing. It really takes a specialist, and in times like these, true experts are rare. I happen to know a thing or two, so it’s best I handle it.”

Granny Zheng shook her head anxiously. The young woman already possessed such extraordinary medical skills; that alone was remarkable. Even if she had dabbled in the occult, surely she hadn’t mastered it enough to take such risks. With her talent, Xu Lin could be considered a national treasure—if anything happened to her, there would be no end to their regret.

Si Zhan and Si Han both joined in, unwilling to let Xu Lin put herself in danger. Even if they couldn’t find a true expert, they couldn’t allow her to take the risk.

Seeing that reason was getting her nowhere, Xu Lin grew impatient. “Granny Zheng, these harmful methods are impossible to guard against. If we don’t root out the enemy, more people will fall under their control and commit acts that harm the country. You wouldn’t want to see that happen, would you? Besides, a thief may have a thousand days to steal, but you can’t guard against them for a thousand days. I only have a few days off—if no one gets rid of them, Uncle Si will remain in danger.”

Her words silenced the car. After a moment, Si Han said, “I’ll go with you.”

“You?” Xu Lin shot him a skeptical look. He was handsome enough, but how capable could he be?

“I’ve studied martial arts since I was a child. I can handle five opponents at once,” Si Han replied earnestly.

Xu Lin blinked. She hadn’t sensed any danger from him, so his abilities probably couldn’t compare to hers. But then again, how many people in the world could?

Having a helper wasn’t a bad idea. Xu Lin nodded her agreement, and Qi Yue had no choice but to pull over. Before the car had fully stopped, security guards from the vehicles ahead and behind had already run over to ask what was happening. Qi Min poked her head out as well, concerned.

Xu Lin and Si Han got out, letting two guards take their places in the car. She waved at the others to indicate everything was fine, then stepped aside with Si Han. Once she confirmed all was well, the convoy pulled away, quickly disappearing from view.

Xu Lin tilted her head and asked Si Han, “Why weren’t you more surprised when you saw the paper man?”

“When I was little, my grandmother told me many strange stories. On the battlefield, too, things happen that science can’t explain. Even though we’re supposed to eradicate superstition now, it can’t be all or nothing. I believe there are still true masters of the occult out there,” Si Han replied, glancing around. “Where are we going now?”